Business Press is doing business book fans everywhere a great service by publishing the Memo to the CEO series, a set of easily accessible and well-researched books from experts on leadership issues. In Reward Systems, Steve Kerr points out the problems with most reward (or incentive) programs, distilling years of experience to present a three-step process for creating a simple yet effective rewards system that will improve both performance and motivation in your workplace.

Change has been the buzzword of the year, but only a few books have addressed change management in truly innovative and constructive ways. In Change the Way You Lead Change, Herold and Fedor examine flaws in change initiatives and take the results of their extensive research to advocate a more philosophical, holistic approach to change, starting with the leader's responsibility in understanding the context in which he or she is leading.

Teams have the power to make or break our work lives, depending on the strength of our relationships and our ability to deal with conflict. In Divide or Conquer, Diana McLain Smith encourages leaders to address internal issues and concerns--the questions, the doubts--that put our working relationships to the test. By addressing these first, the approach team members take to working together will be less defensive and will create opportunities for stronger outcomes.

The "Results-Only Work Environment" promoted by these authors might be a bit too revolutionary for most managers, but Why Work Sucks addresses a fundamental shift in people's attitudes toward the traditional workday. By its shifting focus from attendance to results, Best Buy sets the example for the ideal work environment: one that affords employees flexibility, autonomy and empowerment.

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The books on our 2008 shortlist for the Biographies & Memoirs Category are:
Inside Drucker's Brain by Jeffrey Krames (Portfolio, November 2008) Jeffrey Krames relates Drucker's stories like the talented writer he is, plopping the reader down in Drucker's life, practically sitting in his living room or the Italian restaurant where they went to lunch. This is the best way to learn, by hearing stories, which Peter Drucker told all his life.
The Thief at the End of the World: Rubber Power, and the Seeds of Empire by Joe Jackson (Viking, March 2008) The fascinating story of Henry Wickham, who went to the jungle to find the seeds to the most valuable rubber--and pull off one of the greatest heists of all time--is told here with excitement, intrigue and homage to the wonders of science and industry.

Guy Kawasaki's Art of the Start is one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time (did we mention there's a book coming out), and his most recent book, Reality Check, was one of the best Entrepreneurship and Small Business books of last year. Basically, when Guy Kawasaki has something to say about business, you want to listen. And yesterday, Guy Kawasaki had something to say--about his Alltop.

The books on our 2008 shortlist for the Industry Category are:
Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic: Inside one of the World's Most Admired Service Organizations by Leonard L. Berry and Kent D. Seltman (McGraw Hill, June 2008) The Mayo brothers established and built "one of the world's most admired service organizations" with solid values and a practicality in operations that is truly clinical.

The books on our 2008 shortlist for the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Category are:
Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur by Richard Branson (Virgin Books, Sept 2008)
The selection here is simple: Branson is and continues to be the world's most recognized entrepreneur. Virgin Mobile USA reached one billion dollars in
revenues faster than any company in history (Google and Amazon included). With over 300 companies under the Virgin umbrella, there are more than enough
stories and lessons to share.

The books on our 2008 shortlist for the Personal Development Category are:
Ask for It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want by Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever (Bantam, February 2008) In this sequel to Women Don't Ask, which shared surprising evidence that women are often unknowingly complicit in their lack of career opportunities because they do not ask for raises, bonuses and other advantages that men do, Babcock and Laschever offer a practical guide for improving your asking skills. Populated with personal stories and how-to advice, Ask for It will be useful to help you (any person of any gender) get what you want. Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life by Stewart D.